Spacer member for reinforcing rods in reinforced concrete construction

ABSTRACT

A profiled member, such as an essentially elongated cylinder, is formed with at least two spacially relatively offset openings therein, the openings being of such size to receive reinforcing rods, and formed to engage the rods and interlock therewith. The profiled members are open at both ends to permit pouring of cement therethrough.

United States Patent 1 Keller et a1.

[451 July 17,1973

1 1 SPACER MEMBER FOR REINFORCING RODS, IN REINFORCED CONCRETECONSTRUCTION [76] Inventors: August Keller, lm Buech 387,

Wurenlos; Hans Keller, Haldenstrasse 26, Nussbaumen, both of Switzerland[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 198,603

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov, 18, 1970 Switzerland17089/70 [52] US. Cl. 52/687 [51] Int. Cl. E04c 5/16 [58] Field ofSearch ..52/677689 [5 6] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,255,565 6 1966 Menzel, 52/678 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 407,7738/1968 Australia 52/686 526,247 9/1940 Great Britain 1,477,159 3/1967France 52/684 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Assistant Examiner-JamesL. Ridgill, .lr. Att0rney-Flynn & Frishauf [57] ABSTRACT A profiledmember, such as an essentially elongated cylinder, is formed with atleast two spacially relatively offset openings therein, the openingsbeing of such size to receive reinforcing rods, and formed to engage therods and interlock therewith. The profiled members are open at both endsto permit pouring of cement therethrough.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPACER MEMBER FOR REINFORCING RODS, INREINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION The present invention relates to aspacer member for use in reinforced concrete construction, and morespecifically to space the reinforcing rods from the pouring form.

In reinforced cement construction, reinforcing rods are placed into thepouring form which, together with the form, must be mounted before thecement can be poured. The reinforcing rod must be of such length, andmust be so arranged that, when the cement is poured, they will not be atthe surface of the poured cement. This requires location of the rodswith distance elements which provide distance of the reinforcing rodsfrom the cement form which, when the cement hardens, will form the outersurface of the concrete. The reinforcing rods must be so arranged and sofixed that, when cement is poured, they will not move or shift inposition. The distance members have reinforcing rods placed thereon,determining the distance of the reinforcing rods from the form. Toprevent shifting, for example when cement is being poured or, if thecement is being vibrated, the distance members have customarily beenprovided with wire loops or the like with which the distance members andthe reinforcing rods are interconnected, by twisting.

Distance members with wire loops for interconnection have thedisadvantage that the interconnection must be carried out, for eachdistance member, at the construction site. This is time consuming and isa source of error and trouble later.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacer memberwhich can be placed in position on the job, and which does not requireadditional work steps to secure the reinforcing rods thereto.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, the distance member isa profiled shaped structuraL body, open at both longitudinal ends,formed with at least two relatively spacially offset openings which areso shaped and sized that they will receive reinforcing rods therein, theopening being formed with respect to the rods to engage and interlocktherewith, as the rods are being placed.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a detailed side view of another embodiment of thespacer member;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 rotated 90; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The spacer member comprises a body 21 which is generally sleeve-shaped,and has two pairs of openings 22, 23, and 24, 25 (FIG. 8), at rightangles, diametrically, with respect to each other. Each opening itselfhas parallel side surfaces 26, 27, 26', 27'. The base of the openings 2225 is extended into two slits, 28, 29, between which a ridge 30 will beleft. The reinforcing rod is placed on the ridge 30' in the respectiveopening. Slits 28, 29 extend the sides 26, 27 of the opening, so thatthe portions 31 34 of the body 21 have a relatively long free length.Extending the sides 26, 27, 26',

27' by the slits 28, 29 28', 29' permits leaving the crosssectional areaof the free portions of the body 31 34 to remain constant, so that theseportions will be resil iently yielding. This is particularly importantwhen a spacer member is to be used with reinforcing rods of differentdiameters. The bottoms of the pair of openings 22, 23 are at a lowerlevel than those of openings 24, 25 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

The spacer members 21 have the openings shaped in such a manner that thesides 26, 27, 26', 27' defining the openings are formed withconstricting projections 35, 35', projecting slightly inwardly. Thedistance of projection is big enough so that space between projectionsis just slightly less than the smallest diameter of the einforcing rodswith which the spacer member is to be used. Upon insertion of the spacermember, the inwardly extending projection 35 will securely lock thespacer to the rods. The openings slightly diverge in the directiontowards bottom 36 of the spacer member, that is, form the top 37downwardly (FIGS. l-2). This facilitates insertion of the reinforcingrods. The projections 35, 35' of transversely arranged openings arelocated at different distances from the bottom of the openings compareFIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably, the lower position of the projection, asshown projection 35 (FIG. 1) is associated with the deeper openings 22,23. The member bears with surface 36 against the pouring form. Thissurface is not continuous, but rather undulates, being formed withdepressions or grooves 38, in order to facilitate penetration of cementinto the interior of the body 21. A number of bearing surfaces 39 willremain on the bottom side 36, the bearing surfaces 39 themselvesengaging the pouring form.

The interior of body 21 is ribbed, as generally seen at 40. Ribs 40 aresubdivided into radially extending webs 41, and longitudinal ribs 42,the ribs 42 serving, simultaneously, as a reinforcement for the ridges30, which extend over the webs 41. Additionally, ribs 43 are located inthe region of the form bearing surfaces 39. Transition of the ribs 42,or 43, respectively, to the webs 41 may, as in ribs 42, be abrupt; itmay, also, as illustrated with ribs 43, be gradual. Ribbing 40substantially increases the strength of the spacer element. The ribs 43,insofar as they are not yet reinforced by the webs 41, are additionallyreinforced, as well as the surface 39, where the spacer member bears ona pouring form. The elastic yielding property of the hollow bodyportions 31-34 is not impaired; the ribbing, however, increases thebearing strength and the form stability of the entire spacer member. Byforming the openings, as illustrated, sufficient elasticity is providedto accept reinforcing rods of various diameters, and at the same timeprovide for interlocking of the element with the reinforcing rods, sothat, after the reinforcing rods are inserted, it is practicallyimpossible that they snap out, without application of substantialoutside force.

Body 21 is illustrated as a cylindrical sleeve; the body may have anyother cross-sectional aspect, for example elliptical, or polygonal,triangular, or square. The spacer need not be cylindrical, but can beconical or spherical, or hemispherical.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the inventiveconcept.

We claim:

1. Spacer member for reinforcing rods to space the rods from the wall ofa pouring form comprising a profiled body having at least two pairs oftransversely directed openings therein (22, 23; 24, 25), each adapted toreceive a reinforcing rod therein, the openings being formed, withrespect to the rods, to engage and interlock with the rods, the bottomsof the openings of one pair being at different level with respect to thebottom of the opening of the other pair,

the inside edges (26, 27; 26', 27') of the openings extending beyond thebottom to form longitudinally extending slits (28, 29; 28, 29)continuing the opening and extending the opening beyond the bottom,leaving a ridge (30, 30) therebetween, the ridge forming a bearingsurface for the reinforcing rods, the ridges at the bottoms of one pairof openings being at different longitudinal level with respect to theridges at the bottoms of the other pairs of openings;

cross-connecting webs (41) formed transversely of the hollow body (21);

and ribs (42, 43) formed on the walls of the hollow body and mergingwith said webs (41).

2. Spacer member according to claim 11, wherein the edge surfaces (26,27; 26', 27') defining the openings have necked-in projections extendingslightly towards each other to form a narrowed neck portion (35, 35 inthe region of the mouth of the openings.

3. Spacer member according to claim 1, wherein the webs are located atthe level of oppositely located ridges (30).

4. Spacer member according to claim 1, wherein the ribs (43) extendlongitudinally of the body to substantially the terminal end of thelower surface thereof.

5. Spacer member according to claim 1, wherein the mouths of theopenings are divergent and enlarged to about the diameter of the rods tobe received by the spacer member.

1. Spacer member for reinforcing rods to space the rods from the wall ofa pouring form comprising a profiled body having at least two pairs oftransversely directed openings therein (22, 23; 24, 25), each adapted toreceive a reinforcing rod therein, the openings being formed, withrespect to the rods, to engage and interlock with the rods, the bottomsof the openings of one pair being at different level with respect to thebottom of the opening of the other pair, the inside edges (26, 27; 26'',27'') of the openings extending beyond the bottom to form longitudinallyextending slits (28, 29; 28'', 29'') continuing the opening andextending the opening beyond the bottom, leaving a ridge (30, 30'')therebetween, the rIdge forming a bearing surface for the reinforcingrods, the ridges at the bottoms of one pair of openings being atdifferent longitudinal level with respect to the ridges at the bottomsof the other pairs of openings; cross-connecting webs (41) formedtransversely of the hollow body (21); and ribs (42, 43) formed on thewalls of the hollow body and merging with said webs (41).
 2. Spacermember according to claim 11, wherein the edge surfaces (26, 27; 26'',27'') defining the openings have necked-in projections extendingslightly towards each other to form a narrowed neck portion (35, 35'')in the region of the mouth of the openings.
 3. Spacer member accordingto claim 1, wherein the webs are located at the level of oppositelylocated ridges (30).
 4. Spacer member according to claim 1, wherein theribs (43) extend longitudinally of the body to substantially theterminal end of the lower surface thereof.
 5. Spacer member according toclaim 1, wherein the mouths of the openings are divergent and enlargedto about the diameter of the rods to be received by the spacer member.